MP3 Charmaine Ford - Blues For Guppy

Original Comtemporary Jazz from one of New Zealand's leading jazz pianists/composers

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo, JAZZ: Latin Jazz



Details:
Wellington-based pianist Charmaine Ford has established herself as one of New Zealandâs most innovative and fearless voices in jazz. She has played piano professionally since her mid teens and has been composing since the age of six.

Fordâs second release, âBusy Silenceâ (Dec â06) highlights her distinctive style as a composer, arranger and producer. This self-penned album also captures her phenomenal skills as an improviser.

Her debut album âBlues for Guppyâ (Oct â03) went straight to the top, nominated as finalist in the âBest Jazz Albumâ category at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards 2004.

In 2005, Charmaine sort individual tuition from internationally acclaimed composer, John Psathas for the duration of the year. This period of concentrated training brought about a significant development in her writing.

Charmaine was invited to tour Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) with her trio (Dec â04), which included a performance at the, â2004 Melbourne Womenâs International Jazz Festivalâ. Ford and her trio have also performed and toured throughout New Zealand, and have been invited to play at many of New Zealand's jazz festivals, including the Waiheke International Jazz Festival, Tauranga International Jazz Festival, Wellington International Jazz Festival, and Christchurch International Jazz Festival. In December 2006, Charmaine performed in concert with Tim Beveridge and the NZSO at Wellingtonâs Michael Fowler Centre.

At age 19, Charmaine was awarded a Travel Grant Scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to study in London (all expenses paid). There, Charmaine spent three months learning from two of England's top jazz educators, Nikki Iles and Pete Churchill, while also taking lessons from one of the worlds leading classical pianists, Professor Yonty Soloman. During her time in London Charmaine was also privileged to have lessons with various jazz greats including American pianists, Fred Hersch and Danilo Perez.

Charmaine Ford was born March 22, 1980 in Tauranga, New Zealand. She moved to Auckland at the age of eight, already with two years piano training, and from there rapidly progressed in her music career. Charmaine attended Rangitoto College on Aucklandâs North Shore, where she became heavily involved in the jazz ensembles, both as a player and as a leader. This became her âtraining groundâ for the Auckland jazz scene.

Shortly after leaving high school, Charmaine won several national awards including âBest Pianistâ, and âBest Comboâ at the annual National Tauranga Jazz Festival Competitions.

From there, she toured to Australia with her jazz quintet, âCarte Blancheâ, and performed at the âManly Jazz Festivalâ, Sydney. Not long after returning from overseas, Charmaine was awarded âJazz Musician of the Yearâ, by the Auckland Jazz Workshop (â98), and then gained the same success the following year.

Charmaine was selected as pianist for the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra on four occasions (â98,â99,â00,â02), in which she toured throughout New Zealand.

5 of Charmaineâs compositions appear in the second volume of âThe Kiwi Real Bookâ.

At only 26yrs, Charmaine Ford has an exciting future ahead of her.

=========

âOne of New Zealand's True Piano Mastersâ
WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, NZ

âCharmaine Ford has sealed her reputation as one of New Zealandâs leading Jazz Pianistsâ
CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has a maturity of jazz expression that belies such youth. This is her debut album and itâs a classic"
NZ MUSICIAN MAGAZINE, NZ

"A rising star of New Zealand Jazz Piano"
DOMINION POST, NZ

=========

www.charmaineford.com
www.myspace.com/charmaineford